How much does a Physical Therapist Assistants make?

The median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants is $68,380 ($33 per hour). Pay ranges from about $47,750 at the 10th percentile to $89,510 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Physical Therapist Assistants?

The average (mean) annual salary is $68,730, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Physical Therapist Assistantss the most?

California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $83,110.

Is Physical Therapist Assistants a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 112K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Physical Therapist Assistants do?

Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.; Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.; Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes..

Physical Therapist Assistants Salary

Healthcare Support Occupations · 112K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$68,380

Median hourly

$33

Average annual

$68,730

Typical range

$47,750–$89,510

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$47,750

25th$59,820

Median$68,380

75th$78,680

90th$89,510

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Physical Therapist Assistants is $68,380 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $33 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist.

Most earn between $47,750 and $89,510 a year. There are roughly 112K people employed as physical therapist assistants in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Physical Therapist Assistants.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $32.88
Daily: $263
Weekly: $1,315
Bi-weekly: $2,630
Monthly: $5,698
Annual: $68,380

$68,380 a year is around the 50th percentile for Physical Therapist Assistantss. The median is $68,380.

Physical Therapist Assistants — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$23.00	$47,750
25th percentile	$28.80	$59,820
Median	$32.90	$68,380
75th percentile	$37.80	$78,680
90th percentile	$43.00	$89,510
Average (mean)	$33.00	$68,730
Employment	112,430 people

Key skills

Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Social Perceptiveness
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Service Orientation
Coordination

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1California$83,110
2Massachusetts$79,460
3New Jersey$78,440
4Texas$78,000
5Maryland$77,670
6Alaska$77,640
7Connecticut$75,880
8Nevada$75,520
9Delaware$74,610
10Virginia$73,760
11Oregon$73,180
12Georgia$72,800

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,190
2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$95,920
3Spartanburg, SC$88,070
4Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$87,330
5Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$87,300
6Vallejo, CA$86,630
7Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$85,150
8Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$84,930
9Salinas, CA$84,850
10Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$84,290
11Bakersfield-Delano, CA$84,100
12Modesto, CA$83,450

Related job titles

Employers advertise Physical Therapist Assistants roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Physical Therapist Assistants does

Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Physical Therapist Assistants make?: The median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants is $68,380 ($33 per hour). Pay ranges from about $47,750 at the 10th percentile to $89,510 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Physical Therapist Assistants?: The average (mean) annual salary is $68,730, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Physical Therapist Assistantss the most?: California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $83,110.
Is Physical Therapist Assistants a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 112K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Physical Therapist Assistants do?: Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.; Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.; Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes..